The eyes play a crucial role in your total appearance, and when the signs of aging start to sneak in, it can make you look older and wearier than you feel. The delicate skin surrounding the eyes is particularly vulnerable to sun damage and other extrinsic aging factors, which means you might notice changes around this area before you see wrinkles start to form in other places. Fortunately, Dr. Maas offers a wealth of nonsurgical and surgical treatments for the eyes that can effectively refresh your look and turn back the clock.
Numerous changes can occur to the eyes over time. One of the most concerning for many patients is the formation of a dark circle underneath the eye that can make you look perpetually tired. There are different reasons why this darkness develops, including a loss of collagen that creates a more profound tear trough depression. Collagen is a protein produced by the body that supports the underlying structure of the skin. Collagen depletion, which is common over time, results in skin laxity, thinning skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, collagen depletion can lead to darkening under the eyes that may remain even if you get a full night of sleep.
Fine lines can also form around the eye, especially around the lower lid and in the outer corners. These lines can also be caused by loss of collagen. They occur as well when you repeatedly make facial expressions like squinting or smiling. The latter type of line is known as a dynamic wrinkle and is frequently treated with a neuromodulator like Botox. Other wrinkles that appear in this area often respond well to dermal filler injections.
The brow is the third area where aging signs can begin to appear. Mild ptosis (sagging) is common around the upper eyelid and brow area, which can make you look chronically tired, angry or worried. These changes can also be attributed to skin laxity, which typically becomes worse over time. When the problem is addressed early, injectable procedures can often be used to refresh this portion of the eye, adding a natural “lift” to the entire face. More significant aging symptoms may require surgery to reverse those signs and update your appearance.
Dr. Maas believes the first and easiest step to doing away with dark circles under the eye is a cosmetic filler.
When these are placed directly into the tear trough depression, the area looks less dark, and you look less tired. Because Dr. Maas understands the subtle distinctions between fillers, he knows how to choose the best product for your eye treatment. He looks for formulations that tend to retain less water to prevent a puffy look underneath the eyes. He also takes care to place the injections just below the muscle to ensure the most natural result.
In addition to addressing the tear trough, Dr. Maas may treat the outer area underneath the eye, known as the orbital malar groove. If your discoloration consists of a full half-circle that completely covers the lower portion of the eye, you may need injections into this area as well. Dr. Maas can use the same fillers for the tear trough as the orbital malar groove, ensuring all evidence of aging or weariness is eliminated in a single treatment.
When the upper eye is a source of concern, injectable fillers can be used in this area in some cases as well. Just below the brow, Dr. Maas may administer small amounts of augmentation to produce a slight lift to the forehead that can refresh your entire look. Not every patient is a good candidate for brow filler, but Dr. Maas has an expert eye that can detect potential prominence in the forehead that would be exacerbated by dermal fillers. Most of our patients can benefit from just the right amount of augmentation using a filler product to produce the desired results, however.
While a dermal filler may be sufficient for some individuals, others may prefer a combination of a filler and a neurotoxin like Botox to achieve an optimal result Botox works differently from fillers. Instead of adding support in the underlying dermal structure, Botox relaxes the muscles that lead to the formation of wrinkles.
While lines and wrinkles are smoothed away, you can still make all your natural facial expressions. Botox injections can be performed at the same time as fillers, giving you full results in a single treatment session.
While there are many noninvasive approaches to aging symptoms around the eye, surgical options can also be useful for the right patients. Blepharoplasty is eye rejuvenation surgery that can address the lower lid, upper lid or both lids at the same time, producing dramatic, long-lasting results. Dr. Maas uses advanced techniques that do not leave any visible scarring. Surgical brow lifts can also be done, using endoscopic procedures that require a tiny incision within the hairline that will never be evident after surgery. These options feature results that can last for many years, reducing the need for ongoing sessions in our office that are common with injectable solutions.
If your eyes are giving you a worn, aged appearance, you don’t have to accept those unwanted changes. Contact the Maas ClinicTM at (415) 567-7000 or contact us by email today to find out how we can use fillers or other techniques to refresh your eyes and rejuvenate your entire appearance.
The information about fillers around eyes was reviewed by Corey S. Maas MDTM. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form on the sidebar.